Experienced World XV squad named

The former Springbok coach Nick Mallett believes the players selected for his World XV squad are in top form for their match against South Africa in Cape Town early next month.

The squad of 23 players, comprising of Test stars from New Zealand, France, Australia, Ireland, Samoa, Tonga, Georgia and South Africa, boasts a total of 707 caps between them.

The latest additions to the squad of 23 include four All Blacks with 185 Tests worth of experience between them.

Experienced hooker Andrew Hore, who has 83 caps for New Zealand, heads the list of New Zealanders followed by halfback Jimmy Cowan (51 Tests) and outside backs Sitiveni Sivivatu (45) and Rene Ranger (6).

The All Black quartet will be joined in the World XV squad by French Test players Aurelien Rougerie (centre, 71 caps) and Alexandre Lapandry (loose forward, 6 caps), as well as loose forwards Roger Wilson (Ireland, 1 cap) and Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia, 51 caps).

The only uncapped members of the squad are Rory Kockott and Schalk Ferreira.

The most experienced of the South African contingent in the squad is BJ Botha, who has 25 Springbok caps to his name, followed by Juandré Kruger (17 caps), Schalk Brits (5 caps) and Alistair Hargreaves (4 caps).